Of the total cases, 1,590 individuals reported an income below Rs 8,300 per month, while 765 were unemployed and had no source of income. However, unemployment was explicitly listed as the reason for suicide in only 241 cases, while 24 deaths were attributed to poverty and 36 to bankruptcy or indebtedness. The reasons behind 513 suicides remain unknown.
The 2023 figures reflect a continuing pattern from previous years. In 2022, Delhi reported 3,417 suicides, of which 1,660 victims earned under Rs 1 lakh annually. A total of 773 were unemployed, while unemployment was cited as the cause in 262 cases. Twenty-eight deaths were linked to bankruptcy or debt, and 25 to poverty.
Similarly, 602 cases listed no known reason, the TOI
In 2021, the city saw 2,840 suicides, with 1,424 victims earning less than Rs 1 lakh per year. Among them, 563 were unemployed. Bankruptcy or indebtedness was reported as a cause in 36 cases, poverty in 21, and unemployment in 288. The causes of 502 suicides were not known.
Income divide & emotional toll
As per the National Sample Survey Office’s (NSSO) latest report for 2023–24, nearly 60% of Delhi’s population had a monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) below Rs 8,000 — roughly equivalent to an annual income of Rs 1 lakh. The city’s average MPCE stood at around Rs 8,500.
Counselling psychologist Esha Mehta said financial instability can distort thinking and trigger emotional distress. “A job is not just a job in our society; our careers subconsciously get attached to our self-identity,” she told TOI.
Experts pointed out that while economic hardship most deeply impacts the poor, it affects people across social classes. For some, such as those below the poverty line, the reasons may be demographic, but for others who are financially dependent, they are often societal, one psychologist told TOI.
Meanwhile, counselling expert Sonali Mangal added that conversations about mental health often exclude those struggling to meet basic needs. “Self-care cannot be preached to someone who doesn’t have their basic needs fulfilled,” she told the news outlet. For women and children without financial independence, she explained, the absence of stability can trap them in abusive environments. “When there is no safety net, whether emotional or financial, leaving a toxic environment becomes nearly impossible,” she said.
Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is having thoughts of self-harm, please seek help immediately. You can find resources in India here: